EL considers licensing home based marijuana caregivers

East Lansing officials have begun writing an ordinance to regulate medical marijuana use. They expect the draft to require that home-based marijuana caregivers obtain a business license. Darcy Schmitt is East Lansing's Planning and Zoning administrator:

"That would allow the building official or representative of the police department to make sure that the medical marijuana is secured properly...make sure that the growing operation of the building is safe and meets the requirements of the building code..." she says.

Schmitt says it's part of a larger plan to limit activities involving cannabis to private residences and avoid business districts. She says the early draft does not prohibit so called-compassion clubs--groups of caregivers--from sharing a common space. The city is planning two public hearings on the ordinance in mid-June.